Notre Dame's schedule has been a major point of conversation during this offseason. With USC off the schedule and the upcoming series with Texas now in jeopardy, is the new era of college football bad for Notre Dame's schedule? Photo by The Irish Tribune While Notre Dame has been able to flourish while keeping their independence, their ability to schedule marquee opponents seems to be in doubt due to the ever-evolving landscape of college football. The first casualty was the coveted Notre Dame-USC rivalry. A series that has spanned a century, and only ceased previously due to a world war and a global pandemic. But after USC jumped ship to the BIG 10, neither side has been able to find common ground to continue the series. Now, both fanbases will claim it was the other school that decided to back out of the game, but either way, it hurts not only Notre Dame but college football as a whole. Just recently, it appeared that the upcoming series with Texas could also be in jeopardy as Texas' AD Chris Del Conte told On3's Brett McMurphy that the series was "tentatively" scheduled. The 12-team playoff format has created a burden for many teams to curate a schedule that gives them the best chance to make the playoff field. To do that, it is almost a forgone conclusion that a team must get to at least 10 wins. This makes teams much more hesitant to schedule tough out-of-conference games if their conference schedule is already difficult. In USC's case, their conference schedule comprises Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and Ohio State. With this slate in the BIG 10, USC likely decided it cannot afford to add one more difficult game to the schedule. Notre Dame fans will argue that USC's line of thinking is "soft" or "bad for college football", but it is a growing ideology throughout the sport as programs try to strike the perfect balance to create schedules that are strong enough to make the playoffs while winning enough games. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Second, the overall changes to conferences and how they schedule have also threatened Notre Dame's future matchups. Conference realignment has consolidated a lot of the sport's best programs into two or three conferences. With Notre Dame's choice to stay independent through all of this, it has left them in a spot where they are sometimes the odd man out when it comes to scheduling. To add to this, the ACC agreement has limited the freedom Notre Dame has to schedule whoever it would like. If the ACC were up to par with the SEC and BIG 10 in terms of the strength and parity amongst its members, this would not be a problem, but the ACC has struggled to keep up with other conferences when it comes to overall talent. The second part of this is the SEC moving from an eight-game to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026. For Notre Dame, that means there is one less week in the season to schedule a game with an SEC team in the future. With the BIG 10 already playing a nine-game conference schedule, it worsens the chances of getting a premier game locked in for the future. This is likely the reason Texas is seemingly pouring cold water on the idea that the series scheduled between the two schools will happen. With the news that the Texas series might be up in the air, Texas Tech's Head Coach Joey McGuire expressed his desire to replace Texas if they decide to drop out of the home-and-home series. With BYU replacing USC, Notre Dame may have an ally in the Big-12, as they are constantly looking to beef up their schedule to compete with the SEC and BIG 10. While nothing is certain, especially as college football seems to change on a daily basis, it will be critical that Notre Dame stays in front of these changes to continue to give Marcus Freeman and his talented teams the best chance to win a National Championship. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated June 2nd, 2026 Notre Dame's defensive class is one of the best in the country, and with more key additions in the crosshairs, the Fighting Irish recruiting machine shows no signs of slowing down. Photo by The Irish Tribune Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits Edge Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247Sports as 50th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit set for June 19th Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 172nd overall nationally and 19th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 284th overall nationally and 35th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Official Visit set for June 19th Linebacker Kaden Henderson (5-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Visitied Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026) Official Visit set for June 19th Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247Sports as 63rd overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 149th overall nationally and 13th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (5/7/2026) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Athletes Xavier Sabb (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 31st overall nationally and 2nd overall as an athlete. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 32nd overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Official Visit to Notre Dame set for June 15th Tae Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 10 schools on (4/6/2026) Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 107th overall nationally and 17th overall at the ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 7 schools on (5/14/2026) Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43rd overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th, 2026 Official Visit set for June 12th Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

With the basketball offseason in full swing and Notre Dame’s 2026-27 roster essentially set in tone, we take an early glance at what Micah Shrewsberry’s squad could look like this winter. Photo via Brady Koehler/IG (@brady__koehler) It is no secret that last season was a disaster for the Irish and Coach Shrewsberry, winning just 13 games and tying second-to-last in the ACC. Shrewsberry enters year four with a 41-56 overall record at Notre Dame, resulting in his name being repeatedly thrown around the “hot seat” conversation. In all likelihood, this is a make-or-break year for the Indianapolis native. So, what can fans expect from an Irish squad that returns just under 25% of its scoring from a year ago? Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Roster Below is a look at what Micah Shrewsberry’s rotation may look like on November 1st in Rome: 1: Braeden Smith (Gonzaga transfer), Jonathan Sanderson (Four-Star Freshman) 2: Braeden Shrewsberry (Senior), Logan Imes (Senior) 3: Ethan Roberts (Penn transfer), Devin Brown (Davidson transfer) 4: Brady Koehler (Sophomore), Bryce Dortch (Rutgers transfer) 5: Logan Duncomb (Winthrop transfer), Tommy Ahneman (Redshirt Freshman) Reserves: Yoro Diallo, Gan-Erdene Salongo, Nick Shrewsberry, Brady Stevens, Luke Devine, Jake Burow Notes: Shrewsberry has favored a 10-man rotation each of the past two seasons (9-man in 2023-24) Ideally, he can cut it down to a well-rounded 8-man rotation I believe Diallo, Salongo, and Nick Shrewsberry can all play themselves into the rotation throughout the year Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Three Players to Watch Braeden Smith - Let me preface with Markus Burton is a great basketball player and will always be a true Domer in my mind. Now, Braeden Smith is the first true PG that Shrewsberry will get to work with. The six-foot Gonzaga transfer looks to create for others first, posting 4.6 assists per game across a 105-game collegiate career thus far. A solid shooter himself, Smith’s versatility could open up things for the Irish offense in ways we have not seen in the previous three seasons. Logan Duncomb - Similar to Smith, Duncomb provides something that Shrewsberry has not had during his Notre Dame tenure: an offensive big-man threat. The 6-10, 230-pound Winthrop transfer shot 60% from the field last season while leading the NCAA in points per 40 minutes and player efficiency rating. Duncomb earned Big South Conference Player of the Year honors after averaging over 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. His offensive paint ability should allow for a more versatile team offense than we have seen thus far in the Shrewsberry era. Brady Koehler - Perhaps the most enticing player on the roster to Notre Dame fans, many expect Koehler to take a big sophomore jump. As one of just two returnees in the projected starting lineup, the 6-10 Indiana native should be one of this group’s leaders on and off the court. A walking highlight, Koehler flashes as a potential two-way breakout star. Appearing in 30 games and starting the last 13 games of the year as a freshman, he averaged 5.6 PPG on 45% shooting from the field and 38% from three. Defensively, he added 0.7 blocks and 0.7 steals per contest, using his length to disrupt opposing offenses. If given the keys, Koehler could be amongst the top players in the ACC. But for now, he will just need to focus on continuing his development and playing whatever role Shrewsberry asks of the athletic Forward. Way-Too-Early Predictions Ceiling: 10th in ACC; Around 20 wins, which should be enough for ACC teams to reach the newly expanded NCAA Tournament field; Shrewsberry would likely return in 2026-27. My Guess: 12th in ACC; Potential invite to the College Basketball Crown; Notre Dame lucked out with their ACC home and away matchups, drawing two games each against Boston College and Wake Forest are four potential wins; ACC road schedule is brutal, realistically one or two wins; Non-Conference is still TBD, however current matchups with Villanova in Rome and Florida in the Players Era 8 are brutal tests; 50/50 on if Shrewsberry would return in this scenario, likely dependent on Pete Bevacqua’s feelings. Floor: 14th in ACC; This could be 13th, but I want to give some grace to Luke Murray and Boston College in case they have a magical one-year turnaround; Notre Dame should not finish behind Georgia Tech; Shrewsberry should and, hopefully, would be fired in this instance. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 30th, 2026 Notre Dame's push for back-to-back top 5 classes continues, as a few key targets remain in play on the offensive side of the ball. Photo by The Irish Tribune Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 10th-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Commitment date set for June 23rd Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Commitment date set for June 27th Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Official Visit set for June 19th Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The hype around CJ Carr continues to grow, as ESPN's David Hale has ranked him among the very best of college football's returning quarterbacks. The question now is, will he live up to the extreme expectations? Photo by The Irish Tribune Recently, ESPN's David Hale ranked all 138 college football starting QBs. In that article, he placed Carr in the top tier of all QBs, surrounding him with Arch Manning, Trinidad Chambliss, and Darian Mensah. This, combined with the initial Heisman odds, which have Carr as one of the favorites to win, has Carr in rarified air for a Notre Dame QB. He is going into the 2026 season as not only one of the most hyped up QBs in the country, but maybe one of the most hyped QBs in Notre Dame history. With this, there will be a lot of pressure for him to perform at that level, especially considering he has only started in 12 career games. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Last season, Carr was a revelation for Notre Dame and its fans. For so long, Notre Dame struggled to find a homegrown QB that could compete with the very best in college football. Although Riley Leonard was excellent in 2024, even leading his team to the National Championship appearance, he was never a player who could dominate the game with his arm. He was a game manager with good mobility who never had a long-term future at Notre Dame, as he came in with only one year of eligibility remaining. Carr, on the other hand, came in as a coveted recruit who paid his dues as a backup until he earned his spot as a starter. From there, Carr showed off his elite arm talent, something that had been missing in South Bend for years. Although his skillset and competitiveness were apparent from the start, Carr still made all the mistakes a young QB is prone to. He would sometimes lose his footwork in the pocket, he would force throws into tough windows, and would decline to throw the ball away, opting to try to hit the home-run play every time. Even with the mistakes, Carr did more than enough to get the attention of the entire country with his 2025 campaign, starting the hype for a big 2026 season. Looking to this upcoming season, there are a lot of reasons to believe Carr will take another huge step in his progression. He now has a full season of experience under his belt, giving many comfort heading into next season. During Notre Dame's spring camp, spectators raved about Carr's newfound ability to read the game at a much higher level. Carr has always had the arm to make every throw on the field, but he may now have the vision and intelligence to put him and his teammates in the best position to succeed. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Outside of Carr's development, the entire Notre Dame offense may be better set up to give Carr a great chance to have a special season. Last year, the offense revolved around the stellar play of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. As a duo, they were more than capable of carrying a bulk of the offensive load, making Carr's job relatively easy. Now, with both backs gone, Notre Dame will have to rely on Carr to take on that burden. Luckily for him, he has a lot around him to make his job easier. In 2026, Carr will likely be playing behind one of the best offensive lines in all of college football. It is a group made up of a lot of returning experience and some exciting young talent, such as Will Black. To go with Carr's excellent offensive line, he will also be throwing to a new and improved wide receiver group. Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, and Micah Gilbert are all back, giving him familiar faces to throw to once again. The group adds the exciting young talent of former five-star Ohio State transfers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter. On top of all of this, the room still contains Cam Williams and a lot of talented freshman that could contribute in a big way. With all of this, and another year of progression, it is understandable why so many people are high on Carr. He has everything he needs to be a difference-maker in 2026 and deliver Notre Dame fans what they have been waiting on for decades. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame and DL Coach Charlie Partridge have come out on top of a recently sped-up commitment process, securing a pledge from EDGE Jackson Vaughn on Tuesday. Photo via Jackson Vaughn/IG (@jacksonvaughn_13) Once the #19 overall recruit in the 2028 class, the Irish’s newest commit announced his decision to reclassify to 2027 on April 27th. Following his reclassification, Vaughn now sits as the #15 EDGE and #104 overall recruit in the ‘27 class (247 Sports). The 6-4, 225-pound EDGE holds over 50 offers and ultimately chose the Irish over Auburn, LSU, Miami, and South Carolina. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Vaughn comes out of Oradell, NJ, where he plays at Bergen Catholic, a local and national powerhouse. As a Sophomore this past season, Vaughn recorded 40 tackles, 12 TFLs, 8 sacks, and 3 passes defended as Bergen ultimately fell short in the State Semifinals. The vaunted pass rusher earned a spot on the 2025 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American First Team and is scheduled to participate in the 2027 Navy All-American Bowl. Vaughn records a sack against East St. Louis (IL) Vaughn records a pass-breakup Sophomore Season Mix On the field, Vaughn has the natural physicals to be a dominant edge rusher given his 6-4 height and 80-inch wingspan. As he continues to grow and add weight, the Jersey native will look more and more like a future NFL star. As noted, Vaughn is an elite pass rusher who has showcased elite quickness, flexibility, and elusiveness at Bergen. Additionally, he projects as a good run-stopper. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle For Notre Dame, Vaughn marks the Irish’s 18th overall commit of the 2027 class. He becomes the fourth DL and third player from New Jersey to join the group. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

For the first time in a very long time, Notre Dame will enter the 2026 football season the odds-on national championship favorite, along with a Heisman favorite at quarterback. Photo by The Irish Tribune The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated seasons in Notre Dame football history. With CJ Carr one of the Heisman favorites and the Notre Dame defense returning nearly all its production from last season, the Irish are in a good spot to make a championship run. Despite the program's success in recent years, this feels like the first time the Irish have been a near consensus favorite to win it all. In part, it can be attributed to the rather weak schedule Notre Dame has this season with Miami and BYU being the real premier games. Outside of that, Notre Dame mostly plays a conventional ACC schedule, with the addition of a pair of Big Ten opponents, Navy, and Rice. While Notre Dame failed miserably to handle expectation two years ago after their big win against Texas A&M to open the season, Marcus Freeman was able to rewrite the course of the season and lead the Irish to a national championship game appearance. Now, the question becomes whether this roster has the depth to get over the hump. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! It is clear that the Irish have to replace two of the most dynamic playmakers in recent program history in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, yet it is impossible to replace the production of those two generational running backs. Aneyas Williams is not Love nor Price, but he is a physical running back who doesn't go down on the first hit, who is exceptional as a pass catcher and in pass pro. He will not hit the 50+ yard touchdown runs that Love or Price would make look routine, yet he will be able to move the chains and protect CJ Carr as he drops back. The area in which the Irish are looking to replace the explosiveness of their NFL-bound tandem will be in the pass catching department. The additions of former five-star Ohio State receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter are dynamic, talented receivers looking to be developed by Mike Brown and play a premier role in the offense. They join a talented, somewhat unproven room with Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, and Micah Gilbert all looking to improve upon their prior seasons. Defensively, the Irish have the best secondary in college football, which is something that is pretty much undisputed, because of the return of Leonard Moore, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson, and Christian Gray. To add to that talent, the Irish also signed former All-Big 12 corner DJ McKinney. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Manning the middle of the defense is a group of veterans. Captain Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, and Jaylen Sneed will lead the Irish linebacking unit at the beginning of the year with the hope that Kyngstonn Viliamu Asa will return from his ACL injury near the end of the regular season. Up front, the Irish did what they needed to do to bulk up their interior defensive line with the additions of Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray. On the outside, the trio of Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, and Alabama transfer Keon Keeley should generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The stars appear to be aligning for Notre Dame this season, and if the Irish can handle their expectations and block out the outside noise, they have all the talent to run the table. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @LiamFarrell_IT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The Garden State to Notre Dame pipeline just got another update, with the Fighting Irish landing Olu Olubobola, the number one player in New Jersey and a top three offensive tackle in the C/O 2027. Photo via Oluwasemilore Olubobola/IG (@o.olub) The 5-star lineman has help bolster this incredible recruiting class, which is currently in the top five nationally, and the potential to move even higher. Olubobola joins James Halter as the other offensive tackle to land with the blue and gold for this cycle, and has all the makings of a big time player. I went through his Junior season tape, and although a raw prospect in some areas, Olubobola's potential is highlighted on almost every single play. Let's do a deep dive! Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Great Anybody who has seen the movie The Blind Side may be familiar with the scene where Michael Oher's character gets called for excessive blocking after driving his opponent about eighty yards downfield and through the back of the endzone. Well Notre Dame fans can certainly expect that same level of nastiness when it comes to Olu Olubobola. He routinely muscles defenders out of the picture both on the play side and back side of plays. His play strength is very good, and he is a pancake machine. He has natural knee bend as a pass blocker, and I was impressed with his punch timing, as he showed good patience and did not overextend. Once engaged with a defender, he does a great job of sliding his feet and mirroring. He likes to chop down the arms of the defender right before they go to lean on him which knocks them off balance, and he usually takes that opportunity, to lay on top of them to ensure no ball pursuit. The Good Olubobola has some of the prototypical tools to excel in a Power/Gap scheme. He has good pop off the snap, especially on down blocks, staying low and washing his assignment down the line of scrimmage. He keeps a solid base under him in pass protection and has good feet for his size. He has the combination of strength and athleticism that would allow him to be able to play the blindside but also kick inside if need be. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Things I'll be Watching Next Season Olubobola knows he can win with power and he is not shy about it, but there are times where it would benefit him to play with more technique as opposed to raw strength. I would like to see him stay engaged with defenders and continue driving instead of just trying to ragdoll them. On occasion he allows his hands to get outside of defenders shoulder pads and he gets a little grabby which could draw some flags at the next level. During his senior season, I hope to see him asked to work in space a little more often, getting out as a lead blocker on screens and also climbing to the second level and taking on linebackers/safeties in the run game. He has put enough athleticism on film that I believe those are things he can do, it just seems he has not been asked to do so very often. His angles and depth on his kick step are not bad, but I would love to see continued development in this area as well. Landing players that are top five at their given position has almost become commonplace under the current Notre Dame regime, and Olu Olubobola is the latest example of the elite recruiting outfit the Fighting Irish have become. Anthonie Knapp was a true freshman starting at left tackle for what would be a national championship runner up year in 2024, and Olubobola may be extended that same opportunity when he gets to South Bend if all things go well during his senior campaign. Joe Rudolph has to be excited about his potential and the type of talent he will have at his disposal for years to come. The earned title of Offensive Linemen U will not be changing hands any time soon and defenses across the country should be on notice. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball and Head Coach Niele Ivey have landed their first 2027 commitment, and it is a major addition via Forward Eve Long. Photo via Eve Long/IG (@eve_long023) Long, a 6-3 F, holds 37 offers, according to 247 Sports. On Wednesday, she announced her decision to commit to Notre Dame over UCLA and UConn. In the 2027 SportsCenter NEXT Super 60 Rankings, Long ranks as a five-star prospect, listed as the #5 overall recruit, #1 F, and #1 player from Kansas. Coming out of the Sunflower State, Long attends Olathe South High School and also plays for Southwest Select on the 3Stripes Select Circuit (had a 52-point game last month). She also notably competed and won gold with the USA U16 National Team at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup. Long impressed in the event, earning a spot on the All-Star Five as one of the top players in the tournament, as she averaged 11.8 points (60% FG%), 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game across six contests. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Long carried over her strong summer into a dominant 2025-26 high school season at Olathe South. After averaging 32.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game and leading the team to a 20-5 record, Long was awarded the 2025-26 Gatorade and MaxPreps Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors. Additionally, she was named to MaxPreps’ Junior All-American Second Team. While also becoming Olathe South’s all-time leading scorer, she set a single-game scoring record with 44 points this past winter. In general, Long is the prototypical modern-day positionless big. There is a lot to like about her game, starting with her elite offensive bag. The Kansas native is able to score at all three levels and possesses good handles and footwork. Her rim-running ability should open up new facets of Coach Ivey’s offense that we have not been able to see before during her tenure. Lastly, on offense, Long demonstrates good court vision as a distributor with an adept basketball IQ. Defensively, her premium length and mobility contribute to her dominance around the rim, specifically with rebounding and blocking shots. Additionally, she is able to guard multiple positions, allowing for seamless switches. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Who do you think is next to join Eve Long in the 2027 Notre Dame Women’s Basketball recruiting class? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated on May 16th, 2026 The Fighting Irish are once again putting together an elite class on the defensive side of the football, with plenty of tremendous talent still on the board. Photo by The Irish Tribune Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits Edge Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247Sports as 50th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit set for June 19th Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 78th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 172nd overall nationally and 19th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 284th overall nationally and 35th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247Sports as 265th overall nationally and 14th overall as an athlete. He holds 23 D1 offers. Linebacker Kaden Henderson (5-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Visitied Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026) Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247Sports as 63rd overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports as 207th overall nationally and 18th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 149th overall nationally and 13th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (5/7/2026) Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247Sports as 195th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 (3/11/2026) Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Committing on May 22nd, 2026 Athletes Xavier Sabb (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 31st overall nationally and 2nd overall as an athlete. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 32nd overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Official Visit to Notre Dame set for June 15th Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 10 schools on (4/6/2026) Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 107th overall nationally and 17th overall at the ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 7 schools on (5/14/2026) Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43rd overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 16th, 2026 Notre Dame just secured two five-star commits in the same week for the first time since... last cycle. The Fighting Irish have begun to heat up on the recruiting trail and show no signs of slowing down. Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 10th-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 64th overall nationally and 5th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 (unofficial) Visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame bolstered its DL recruiting in a big way on Friday afternoon, when David Folorunsho announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Photo via David Folorunsho/IG (@david.folorunsh0) Folorunsho committed to Notre Dame over Miami, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Georgia. The consensus four-star ranks as the #37 overall recruit, #3 DL, and #1 player in Illinois, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. The 6-4, 280-pound DL was born in Nigeria, where he lived for 10 years before moving to the United States. Out of Chicago, Folorunsho attends St. Patrick High School, coached by former Notre Dame DB Tom Zbikowski. The Irish presence goes deeper at St. Patrick’s with President Dan Santucci, former Notre Dame OL and teammate of Zbikowski. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Folorunsho, following in the footsteps of Zbikowski and Santucci, feels like a natural fit as Notre Dame’s newest pledge. This past fall, the DL recorded 27 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble, while also playing OL. What pops most from Folorunsho’s film is his elite athleticism, given his size. He is twitchy, has good sideline-to-sideline speed, and is versatile enough to play off the edge if needed. This, mixed with his powerful moves, projects Folorunsho as a disruptive menace in college. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Folorunsho becomes Notre Dame's 17th commit of the 2027 class and the 3rd DL to join. This commitment also marks the Irish’s first addition out of Illinois. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!